His role and importance. In the Russian original, Chapter Six of JUDGEMENT IN MOSCOW ("The Coming of Gorbachov") was called “The Appearance of Tchichikoff” -- a comparison between Mikhail Gorbachov and Russia’s most famous conman, the hero of Gogol’s classic DEAD SOULS. The author expresses doubt as to whether Gorbachov was indeed the man, who … Continue reading Chichikov Reappears (Gorbachov)
In 2013, a year before the annexation of CRIMEA and the invasion of eastern UKRAINE, Vladimir BUKOVSKY set out the conditions under which Russia could regain the path to true liberty and democracy. In late 1991 the Soviet Union fell apart but as Bukovsky described in his last major work "Judgement in Moscow" (2016) fragments … Continue reading “Only a Trial will do this time” (2013)
SECRETARIAT [1.3]. Complaints by the Soviet population about shortages of cooking salt, in shops and elsewhere [R: 17 February 1981, St 250-10]. 8 pp. ======================= [page one of eight] St 250/10, 17 February 1981 Top Secret RESOLUTION of the Secretariat of the CPSU Central Committee Complaints by working people about disruption in supplies of household … Continue reading 17 February 1981* (St 250/10) Shortages of salt in the USSR
KGB REPORT to the Central Committee (Politburo) by Vladimir KRYUCHKOV, new KGB head (1988-1991) on Andrei SAKHAROV’s funeral [R: 20 Dec 89, 3 pp. 2568-K]. 3 pp. ============================= [page one of three] kb-4 [two illegible words] DISTRIBUTED No. 1658. Secret '177' Copy No. 2. 20 December 1989, No. 2568-K. To the CPSU Central Committee [STAMP: … Continue reading 20 Dec 1989* (2568-K) Mourning the death of Sakharov
Transcript of KOSYGIN’s March PHONE conversation with Afghan prime minister Mohammed TARAKI. Also included: (a) report by GROMYKO, ANDROPOV, PONOMARYOV and KOSYGIN; (b) 29 June Politburo decision [R: 18 March 1979, No 242]. 19 pp (excerpts). =============================== [page one of nineteen] Top Secret SPECIAL FILE TRANSCRIPT OF A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION between A.N. Kosygin [1] and … Continue reading 18 March 1979* (No 242) Kosygin-Taraki phone call
JOINT MEMORANDUM to Central Committee from KGB, USSR Procurator-General and ?Ministry of Justice. Delay trials of “anti-Soviet elements” ([a] dissidents Anatoly SHCHARANSKY, Alexander GINZBURG, Yury ORLOV and Zviad GAMSAKHURDIA; and [b] "spies" Lubman, Filatov and Nilov) until a politically suitable time [R: 1 April 1978, 785-A]. 4 pp (excerpts). ============================== [page one of four] Secret … Continue reading 1 April 1978* (785-A) Putting Helsinki Group members and “spies” on trial
KGB MEMORANDUM. 'Anti-Soviet elements' intend to hold an international seminar in Moscow, "The KGB and Perestroika", inviting prominent foreigners and former dissidents to attend [R: 27 Jul 88, 1541-K]. 2 pp. ========================== [page one of two] Top Secret 27 July 1988, No 1541-K To the CPSU Central Committee The intention of anti-social elements to hold … Continue reading 27 July 1988* (1541-K) Block rights activists’ seminar
Two additions to the website outline events taking place at three levels and on three different TIMESCALES: A Wider World (1914-2014); Russia and the USSR (1917-2015); the Life and Work of Vladimir Bukovsky (1942-2019). * Chronology One: 1914-1976 Covers the period from the outbreak of World War One up to the exchange of Bukovsky in … Continue reading 04. Chronology (1914-2019): The World, Russia/USSR, V.K. Bukovsky
Website UPDATE (two) [See added Postscript, 31 March 2025] * "So many fantastic lies have been created about Gorbachov and his 'reforms',” wrote Bukovsky in the opening words of Chapter 12, "that we can trust only the documents." Can we? The documents tell a different story, of that we can be sure. Whether it is … Continue reading OPINION AND EVIDENCE
Website UPDATE (one). TWO MAJOR COMPONENTS make up this website: [1] classified documents found in 1992 in the CPSU Central Committee archive by Bukovsky, and [2] his last major work, "Judgement in Moscow", where his views are supported by extensive quotations from those clandestine texts. Neither is complete without the other. The documents require interpretation; … Continue reading “Judgement in Moscow” and classified Central Committee documents
24 April 1979, Pb 150/129 [3.2] – POLITBURO DECISION. Deprivation of citizenship for Eduard KUZNETSOV, Mark DYMSHITS, Valentyn MOROZ, Georgy VINS and Alexander GINZBURG, and their exchange for two US spies [R: 24 April 1979, Pb 150-129]. 10 pp. =========================== SUMMARY In late April members of the Politburo approved the draft decrees of the Presidium … Continue reading Political releases, April 1979*
11 January 1976, 81-A [3.2; 2.2] – KGB MEMORANDUM. Measures to prevent an “illegal” commemorative meeting in honour of the 1825 Decembrist Rebellion [R: 11 January 1976, 81-A]. One page. =============================== SUMMARY In an 11 January 1976 memorandum to the Central Committee, Andropov reported how the KGB had prevented a "hostile demonstration in Leningrad" the … Continue reading Decembrist demonstration, 1975*
SECRETARIAT. Concern about US intentions at forthcoming CSCE conference [1] in Madrid [R: 25 October 1979, St 182-27]. 3 pp. ======================= [page one of three] Workers of all Lands, Unite! COMMUNIST PARTY OF THE SOVIET UNION. CENTRAL COMMITTEE [text along left-hand margin] Return to CPSU Central Committee (General Dept, sector 1) within 15 days of … Continue reading 25 October 1979* (St 182/27) Upcoming CSCE Conference (Madrid)
The Bukovsky Archives 